Cowboys mock draft: Film breakdowns of top NFL prospects that could land in Dallas after Round 1

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SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Dexter Lawrence of the Clemson Tigers looks on from the sideline during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The Cowboys' season has come to an end, so it's time to turn our attention toward the NFL draft.

The Cowboys may not have a first-round pick, but that won't preclude them from taking players who can make a large, positive impact on the team. The 2009 draft was the last time the Cowboys didn't have a first-rounder. Dallas hopes it can do a much better job this time around, as the best player drafted in 2009 ended up being fourth-rounder Victor Butler, who posted just 11 sacks in four seasons with the Cowboys.

While the Cowboys have done an excellent job drafting in the first round since 2009, they have done pretty well beyond Round 1, too. Dak Prescott, Jaylon Smith, Chidobe Awuzie, Randy Gregory, DeMarcus Lawrence, Xavier Woods and Michael Gallup all were selected after the first round, and each played a big role for the team this season.

With that in mind, let's take a look at who the Cowboys may draft in the 2019 draft:

Round 2: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson

Antwaun Woods and Caraun Reid played well for the Cowboys this season, but the losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Rams proved that Dallas needs to inject some talent into the nose tackle position (1-technique defensive tackle).

Believed to be a first-round lock entering 2018, Lawrence has seen his stock drop to the second round thanks to a failed drug test ahead of the Cotton Bowl game and the devaluation of nose tackles in the NFL. With just 1.5 sacks in 2018, it's unlikely that teams will take a gamble on the 6-foot-4, 350-pound defensive tackle in Round 1.

In the second round, however, Lawrence would be a great fit for the Cowboys. He would be the most talented defensive tackle on the roster (sans David Irving) from the moment he arrives at The Star.

Lawrence is an incredibly powerful human being who dominates in one-on-one situations at the point of attack. Lawrence is deliberate with his hands, consistently attaining superior hand position at the point of attack, and he does well to reset the line of scrimmage by creating knock-back on contact.

Like most nose tackles, Lawrence doesn't contribute a ton as a pass rusher but has shown the ability to be effective on stunts and twists, which the Cowboys love to use. Lawrence does have a bad habit of allowing his base to narrow when engaged, which causes his balance to be poor and leads to him getting moved by double teams at times.

Ultimately, Lawrence would provide a major upgrade to Dallas' interior run defense. Furthermore, it would allow Dallas to better rotate its nose tackles to stay fresh (Woods received 38 snaps per game this season).

In the past, the Cowboys haven't valued the nose tackle position enough to select one this high, but after watching the Colts and Rams dominate their interior defensive line, it would be wise for them to change their philosophy this year.

Round 3: Andy Isabella, WR, UMass

With Cole Beasley's impending free agency, the Cowboys may forgo re-signing the veteran slot receiver in an effort to save some cap space and get younger at the position.

If Dallas opts to go that route, UMass wide receiver Andy Isabella would be an ideal selection in the middle rounds.

Isabella was one of the most productive receivers in college football in 2018, finishing second in receptions (102), first in receiving yards (1,698), sixth in touchdown receptions (13), third in receptions per game (8.5) and first in yards per game (141.5). While much of it came against inferior competition, Isabella has proven capable against top-tier talent as well, recording 15 catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia.

Because of his size, Isabella predictably struggles against press or physical coverage, which is why he projects better to the slot, where receivers see little press coverage and are gifted a two-way go off the line of scrimmage. Isabella is a good route-runner who uses his speed and quickness to create separation out of his breaks and at the top of routes.

Once he gets the ball in his hands, Isabella is dangerous, as his deep speed and stop-start quickness allow him to outrun defenders' angles of pursuit.

If Beasley does end up leaving in free agency, Isabella would be a cheaper and younger replacement who has the potential to develop into an even more potent threat from the slot.

Round 4: Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M

While Dalton Schultz and Blake Jarwin looked promising toward the end of the season, Rico Gathers failed to make much of an impact and Geoff Swaim is scheduled to become a free agent this year, meaning Dallas could be in the market to select a tight end in the 2019 draft.

Luckily for Dallas, tight end is one of the deepest positions in this class, and Texas A&M's Jace Sternberger appears to be one of the better mid-round options.

After spending two seasons with Kansas, Sternberger went the JUCO route before transferring to Texas A&M, where he put up 48 catches for 832 yards (17.3 yards per reception) and 10 touchdowns in his only season. Listed at 6-4, 250, Sternberger has the size to hold up as a blocker and athleticism to be a credible threat as a receiver.

As a receiver, Sternberger relies mostly on his size and athleticism to get open or create separation, as his route-running ability needs works. He possesses reliable hands in contested and uncontested situations.

Sternberger's best trait as a receiver is his yard-after-catch ability. He has that extra gear to outrun second-level defenders along with the power to run through contact.

As a blocker, Sternberger possesses the tools to become an above-average blocker in the NFL. He plays from a balanced base, sustaining blocks longer than the typical tight end. Furthermore, Sternberger does well to block targets on the move and understands how to use his body to shield defenders when he can't create movement at the point of attack.

But he is still developing as a blocker and has a tendency to get his weight over his toes, allowing him to be countered by more savvy defenders.

Altogether, Sternberger is a willing blocker who can be a valuable weapon for Dallas in the passing game. Sternberger appears to be a much more talented version of Swaim coming out and has the potential to take Swaim's old mantle as the Cowboys' No. 1 tight end in his rookie or sophomore seasons in the NFL.

Round 5: Trayveon Williams, RB, Texas A&M

After years of using Lance Dunbar in the role, the Cowboys were devoid of a scat back in 2018. Speed has become king in the NFL, and the Cowboys would be wise to add some more of it in the draft.

One potential option is Texas A&M running back Trayveon Williams. At 5-9, 200, what Williams lacks in size and power he makes up for with speed, elusiveness and vision.

Unlike most scat backs, Williams' vision allows him to maximize his athletic traits, as he consistently demonstrates the ability to read/anticipate blocks to make the correct the read.

Williams' elusiveness makes him tough to tackle in space, allowing him to be successful against penetrating defenders.

On top of his running ability, Williams is also an adept receiver. Not only is he a dangerous pass-catching threat out of the backfield, but he also has experience lining up out wide, meaning he could be a nice mismatch player in the NFL.

Selecting Williams on Day 3 would be a wise investment because his usage isn't exclusively tied to spelling a fatigued Ezekiel Elliott -- he could also be lined up out wide, similar to what Dallas did with Dunbar in the past.

Round 7: Cole Tracy, K, LSU

The Cowboys made the surprising decision to retain Brett Maher over Dan Bailey at kicker this season. It proved to be the right move, as Maher made 80.6 percent of his field goals while Bailey converted on just 75 percent of his attempts for the Minnesota Vikings.

But Maher still left a lot to be desired from the kicker position. Maher's percentage of field goals made ranked 20th among kickers who had at least 21 field-goal attempts.

While Maher was excellent on field goals of 50-plus yards, going six of seven last season, he was putrid from the intermediate distances, going 11 of 19 (68 percent) on field goals between 30-49 yards -- the worst among kickers with at least 21 field-goal attempts.

So don't be surprised if Dallas signs or drafts a legitimate kicker who can compete with Maher in training camp. If Dallas opts to go the draft route, LSU's Cole Tracy would be as good an option as any to compete with Maher.

Tracy went 29 of 33 (87.9 percent) on field goals in 2018 with a long of 54 yards, and all of his misses except for one came from 50-plus yards.

Maher-Tracy would be an interesting training camp battle to watch. Tracy is nearly automatic on kicks inside of 50 yards but can be inaccurate on kicks of 50-plus yards, while Maher thrives from 50-plus but struggles to be consistent on field goals inside of 50.